I don't own Harry Potter. All I have for myself is my original plot. Well, I hope it's one of a kind….My third installment.
Chapter 3: Affairs and Responsibilities
Harry and Hermione were sitting in their compartment holding each other. They were already dressed in robes for disembarking from the train. They had the most wonderful trip. No words were spoken just the two of them together feeling contented in each other's arms.
"It's almost our stop we have to get everyone ready," Hermione said dutifully as she stood up from her seat.
"We better start moving then?" Harry held out his hand to her as he stood up. They didn't bother about their belongings since they will be sent to the castle. All they had to worry about is to handle their duties.
"We have to round the Prefects for their assignments," Hermione said.
"I guess, you've already read the whole handbook," Harry joked. But he knew that she really did read the handbook from cover to cover, always the reliable one, Hermione.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Hermione asked with a questioning look on her face.
"I just realized how beautiful you look," Harry couldn't stop the words from spilling out. He felt himself blushing and so was Hermione. "Come on we should meet them then," he said as she pulled her unto the next compartment where the prefects were staying.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from blushing. The compliment that Harry gave her caught her off guard and that at some point she thought her wits must have left her for a while.
They went to the next compartment and told the prefects their duties not that they had to be briefed every time but there were a few who needed to be reminded. Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy were the Slytherin Prefects. Padma Patil and Terry Boot were the prefects from Ravenclaw. Susan Bones and Aaron Hughbourn were from Hufflepuff.
"On my list, we have two new additional Gryffindor Prefects as our replacements of course, since you're head boy and I'm head girl," Hermione said as she examined the list she was holding, "It says here Dylan McGarth his here already and what do you know? We also have Virginia Weasley from the sixth year."
"Isn't it odd that she didn't get hold of this news?" Harry asked.
"Well, I can only think about one thing `Errol'. You know how old that owl is he must have lost it or he must have dozed of somewhere," Hermione said. "Well, we only have one thing to do," she said eyeing Harry mischievously.
"Of course, Mr. Malfoy or should I say Draco could you please get Ms. Weasley for us so we can talk to her before the train goes into it's full stop? She has to be informed of her duties or better yet do the honor of informing her everything that she has to know about being a prefect," Harry tried to command authoritatively but surely everyone knew that he was just trying to have a little fun.
"Whatever Potter, just don't get to cozy with bossing around." And with that Draco left the compartment to look for Ginny.
Pansy tried to follow Draco but Hermione told her to pair up with Dylan and teach him his way around. Pansy without Draco couldn't argue especially now that it would be against the head girl even if she usually called her a filthy mudblood.
Harry actually found it odd that they had the upper hand on Draco and Pansy, and with the looks on Hermione's face he could see that she was new to the feeling as well.
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Ginny, Ron and the other Gryffindors were already on their School robes when Draco knocked on their compartment door.
"Ginny Weasley, I need a word with you," Draco said arrogantly.
"What do you need from my sister?" Ron asked furiously.
"I'm on official Business Weasel so sod it! Believe me it's no pleasure for me doing this stupid task of talking to you sister," Draco retorted.
"Shut up the both of you! Okay, I'm coming. Ron don't worry it's not like he can do anything to me," Ginny said trying to level with Draco's arrogance.
"I believe she's right Ron. Your sister can take care of herself," Lavender said as she placed a comforting hand over Ron's.
"I see you have recovered from your relationship with the mudblood. Not bad Weasel you found a nice replacement," Draco smirked as he left the compartment.
Lavender was furiously blushing and Ron was to in a way but he had almost stood up and got hold of Malfoy but Dean stopped him and said that the git wasn't worth it.
Ginny got out of the compartment and followed Draco with a disgusted look on her face. She can't believe that she had to follow the pathetic moron wherever it was that he was taking her. Almost halfway to the prefect's compartment Draco stopped and faced Ginny.
"Okay Weasley, I was asked to inform you that you've been made a prefect. That means you are to take your duties and responsibilities at the best of your abilities. You're to be a good example to other student's specially from your house," Draco said.
"What!" she exclaimed and hugged Draco Malfoy. She didn't intend to but the excitement of the moment just made her do it. Realizing her unlikely action she instantly pulled away. "That's great!" she said as she looked on the floor to avoid Draco's stare.
Draco was taken a back by the whole scenario. Ginny Weasley hugged him. He didn't know how to react. He had to say something. He knew he had to.
"Don't ever do that again Weasley. I know you're excited but that doesn't give you the right to put your filthy hands around me," Draco smirked. `Your being the git that they all pictured you to be Malfoy,' he said to himself.
"Like I really wanted to do that!" Ginny retorted defensively. "Sorry but my filthy hands won't ever go near you, your great highness," she smirked. "A prefect is a good example, you say? No wonder Slytherins are such prats, now I know what kind of role model they have." And with that she walked off towards the Prefect compartment.
The compartment was empty since the Prefects went out to do their respective duties. Draco went in to talk to Ginny.
"Well, I forgot to tell you. I was assigned by Potty to show you how prefects like myself do our work," he said in a less aggravated but more formal manner.
"Goody, I'm stuck with you," Ginny remarked sarcastically.
They did the regular rounds getting the students prepared for their stop when the train actually went to a full stop. Prefects went out of the train first. Then they were assisting the other students as they disembark.
"Harry, don't you think that, that is more torture for Ginny than it is for Draco?" Hermione asked a bit concerned as she pointed out to Harry the arguing Ginny and Draco.
Harry looked at where Hermione was pointing. He saw Draco and Ginny arguing in front of a first year that looked so confused with the two people fighting in front of him.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of them. You go on help the others," Harry said and he gave Hermione a quick kiss on the cheek before he went to Ginny and Draco's direction.
Hermione felt herself blush. `Harry just kissed me. Does he really like me?' she asked herself. She stood there for a while staring back at Harry but then she eventually went back to her duties.
"What seems to be the problem here?" Harry interrupted the heated argument between Ginny and Draco.
"He was telling the little boy some really bad things about the Gryffindor house," Ginny retorted and gave Draco a piercing stare.
"I was simply saying that it's better to be sorted into Slytherin," Draco argued, "but of course you'll take her side since you belong in that house to."
"Actually, young man," Harry moved his attention to the confused first year, "you'll be sorted into the house which you should belong to. You really can't choose which house you'll be placed into but the sorting hat is good at his job. So don't worry he'll place you were you should be"
The boy just smiled at Harry then changed his reaction when he saw the scar on Harry's forehead. "Are you…. are you Harry Potter?" the boy asked in amazement.
"Yes, I am and you are?" he asked the little boy back.
"I'm Ethan McGregor," the boy answered but still a bit stunned with his luck of meeting Harry Potter in the flesh.
"Nice meeting you Ethan. Now if you just go along with those first years, your things will be taken cared of," Harry shook hands with the boy and motioned him to join the other first years following Hagrid to the lake. Harry realized that he hadn't talked to Hagrid.
"As for you two," he started as he stared at Draco and Ginny who were silent while Harry was talking to Ethan.
"I hope you understand the implications of your actions?" he asked. "Draco, I expected more from you. The task assigned to you is quite easy. You are to show Ginny what to do and not to argue with her in front of the new students."
"Ginny, I know this isn't actually the welcome you expected for being a new prefect but you have to get along with everyone even if it's Draco," he told her.
"Sorry, Potty if I didn't meet your standards," he said sarcastically. "Are you coming Ginny or not?" he asked her sternly.
"I'm sorry Harry. Promise we'll try to get a long," Ginny said apologetically but Harry smiled and everything made sense to her now. Harry was teaching Draco a lesson. She followed Draco and they assisted the other students into the carriages not really talking to each other.
When it was finally there turn to get into a carriage they found themselves sharing one but still not talking to each other.
Harry walked towards Hagrid who was helping the first years into their boats, four in each.
"Hiyaa, Arry," Hagrid greeted him. "Congratulations! See yah made it as head boy after all."
"Thanks Hagrid. So how was your summer?" Harry asked.
"I had a special mission from Dumbledore. See we had to talk to the Giants at the far North."
"We? You were with who?" Harry said with a questioning look.
"With Mad'm Maxine O' course," he answered slightly blushing.
"I see. Well, how did it go?"
"It was uncertain at firs but we fin'lly talked some sense to em," Hagrid said as he helped the last student in. "Well, we better be goin' now. Arry, you should board yer carriage. Ermione is waitin'?"
Harry waved goodbye and ran up to the carriage where Hermione was waiting.
"How is Hagrid doing?" Hermione asked as Harry got in their carriage.
"He said Dumbledore sent him and Madame Maxine to talk to the giants," he answered as he sat next to her, putting his arm around her shoulder.
Hermione just rested her head against his chest. "I hope nothing bad happens this year."
"Not if I can help it," Harry said trying to reassure her.
"Actually I'm so worried about you," she looked up to him with pleading eyes. "What if he comes after you again and this time he's powerful enough to…"
"No he won't get me. He'll never take me away from you. You hear me?" He said to her trying to soothe her. She was sobbing in his arms.
"I'm scared of loosing you Harry. I'm always scared when you have to face Voldemort. I'm trying to be strong every time you face all those ordeal but now I don't know if I can handle it anymore," she told him.
"Hermione, listen to me. I won't let anyone not even Voldemort to take me away from you. I love you Hermione always remember that," he said to her wiping the tears on her face. `There I finally said it. And I think I've seen enough to know that she loves me the same way. I'm the luckiest man,' he told himself.
"Harry, do you mean it?" she suddenly asked.
"Of course I mean it, with all my heart," he told her as he lowered his lips to her in their first kiss. After a long passionate kiss they parted.
"Please stop crying I can't bear to see you like this. You're a strong person Hermione you always were," he comforted her as he looked deeply into her eyes.
"I'm just so happy. Hearing you say it made all my fears go away," she assured him. They held each other in an embrace. They stayed that way until they reached the castle.
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Ginny just looked out the window of the horseless carriage that was taking her and Draco to the Castle. `I don't know what's going on in Harry's head but I think this is so unfair in my part. What did I do to deserve this kind of torture?' she thought to herself.
Draco was glancing at the girl with him in the carriage. `She's not bad looking. I think she's a lot prettier than Pansy. Heck! She's gorgeous compared to Pansy,' he told himself. `Wait, are you kidding? She's a Weasley. The sister of the Weasel, unless you've forgotten,' he reminded himself and he just stared at the window next to him.
`Draco would have been very attractive if he isn't the arrogant git that he is? I hate to admit it next to Harry, he's probably the next best thing, too bad he's such a prat,' she thought as she glanced at him staring out the window.
`What if I apologize to her? Will She forgive he? She probably thinks I'm such an ass," he pondered. `You shouldn't associate yourself with the poor Wizarding kind!' his father's stern voice was echoing in his head.
`Ron would probably kill me if he finds out that I think Draco is cute. Hell, the whole Gryffindor would probably despise me. Oh Harry what had you got me into!' her mind screamed. The carriage went to a stop they were at Hogwarts. Ginny followed by Draco got out from their carriage. Surprisingly for Ginny, only the Head boy, Head girl and other prefects had arrived. The other carriages were probably still on its way.
Harry and Hermione told them to line up. Now Ginny was beside a fellow Gryffindor, Dylan. Draco was staying beside Pansy. They were now assigned to their own respective houses. They waited for the second to seventh year students to arrive.
When the carriages arrived, Ron got out right after Lavender. He saw Harry and Hermione holding hands. He was right, they loved each other and for once he did the right thing by setting her free. He may not have a girlfriend now but at least he still has his best friends and that's what matters. He hurriedly went up to them. He also noticed Ginny along side the prefects. `My sister is a prefect! Wait till Fred and George hears about this,' he thought.
"Ron, can I walk with you?" Lavender asked from behind him.
"Sure," he answered and he instinctively took her hand to his. Lavender didn't argue and walked along side him. "This day isn't as bad as I thought."
They reached Harry and Hermione and Ron smiled at both of them. Harry smiled back then looked at his best friend and Lavender holding hands.
Hermione was also beaming at both of them. She mouthed to Ron, `I'm happy for you.'
Harry squeezed Hermione's hand and he told everyone to enter the castle.
The students after entering the great hall went to their respective tables. Harry and Hermione sat beside each other and across them Ron seated between Lavender and Ginny. Dylan sat beside Collin Creevey and Melanie Wayne. Both were sixth year students.
Draco sat beside Pansy and Goyle. Crabbe was seated across them. Draco was facing Harry and Hermione's back and from where he was he could clearly see Ginny Weasley as she cheerfully talked with her brother. `She's a lot prettier when she's smiling,' he thought. `Don't be an idiot your father will kill you and what will the Slytherins say?' he scolded himself.
Everyone was seated when the first years arrived. Leading them to the hall was Professor McGonagall and from the side door near the teacher's table they saw Hagrid come in. The expressions on the faces of the first years were just like those of Harry and Ron's when they first entered the hall. Hermione on the other hand having read `Hogwarts, A History' knew about it long before.
Dumbledore rose up from the middle of the high teacher's table and everyone was silent. "I would like to acknowledge our new Head boy, Harry Potter and Head girl Hermione Granger", he announced. Everyone broke to applause, well, except for the Slytherin Table.
The Sorting Ceremony took place and there were a number of new Gryffindor Students, Alice Perkins, Ethan McGregor, Simon Holmes, Abbey Himfeel, Jesse Rupert, among the few.
Harry motioned Ethan to occupy the empty seat beside Ginny and the others followed. The feast already started.
"Glad I made it to Gryffindor!" Ethan told Harry as he reached the table. "And Ms. Weasley, you're right I do belong here," he beamed at Ginny. She just smiled at the boy.
"Are you really Harry Potter? I've read a lot about you," Alice asked Harry. "And you're Hermione Granger, you're really smart probably the smartest student in Hogwarts," she moved her attention to Hermione. "I wish I can be like you. I mean I've been reading a lot of books. I'm also muggle born like you."
Hermione was blushing from what Alice said about her. They heard lots of complements for Harry before but she never heard much for her. `Was I like that before?' she thought.
Harry just gave her a smile. He whispered to her that she was that adorable.
"You know everything? Are you a book worm or something?" Simon blurted while he was digging into his pumpkin pudding.
"You shouldn't talk to her like that," Ron said. `He's almost like me when I picked on Hermione,' he told himself.
"This is so funny… It's like seeing miniature us," Harry joked.
"That means we have young ones looking up to us to be responsible adults," Hermione cut in.
"I guess you're right," Harry agreed.
"That means you should stay out of trouble Harry or there will be a number of kids following your footsteps," Ron added.
"That is if trouble doesn't find me," Harry answered and they all laughed.
Draco stared at the Gryffindor table where Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny were laughing with the first years. Ethan the boy he talked to before he had the argument with Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor. `Sure thought he would have been a Slytherin,' he told himself.
To be continued……..
[A/N]: Well, I took me a while finishing this one. The next chapters would hopefully be a lot better. Enjoy reading and please review.